Alfie Lifts the Burden
Alfie Burden won the IBSF World Snooker championship after an heroic 10-8 victory over Igor Figueiredo
Former Professional Alfie Burden eventually prevailed after a dramatic and fluctuating IBSF World snooker final in Hyderabad.
At times in the match it seemed that whatever Burden did it might not be enough to prevent Igor Figueiredo winning the match.
Burden stormed out to a 3-0 lead, with a best run of 78 and looked like it might be one way traffic.
Figueiredo countered with 98, and thereafter they shared the frames to give Burden a 5-4 lead at the half way stage.
On the resumption The Brazilian fired in 76 to level the match and then took the lead for the first time at 6-5.
Burden responded with a burst of three frames, including a 103 clearance to stand on the brink of victory.
But still he couldn't shake off the gallant Brazillian, who won two more frames, both with his fair share of luck.
Burden was showing visible signs of nerves, but although his opponent looked calm enough, his long potting suddenly deserted him.
The gulf in experience showed as Burden kept the eighteenth frame very tight, and it was a couple of speculative shots by Igor that gave Burden the opportunity to accumulate a big enough lead to close out the match and give him the title.
Both players were mobbed as the final ended, the massed ranks of Indian media stormed the arena, as did fans and friends.
Somewhere amidst the chaos Burden was able to dedicate his win to the family back in England and affirm that he'd be working very hard back on the Main Tour next season to repay the faith and support from his mother and father.
Burden was full of praise for newcomer Figueiredo. "He's amazing, to come to his first IBSF event and get to the final is brilliant. His long potting is superb.
"At times in the match I was thinking I couldn't get him off my back. Whatever I did, he kept coming back at me and I was really feeling the pressure and twitching at the end."
Burden laughingly said "I twitched right through the tournament, I didn't play my best snooker but I think my experience on the professional circuit helped me a lot.
In his acceptance speech Burden conceded "I am glad now I lost my professional place and was able to play in this event. It's an amazing achievement to win this and to have my name on the trophy alongside all the famous previous winners.
"I wouldn't have missed this for anything. We've have a fabulous time here in India, the people are so friendly and the country is amazing."
Figueiredo, still smiling in defeat said "I am so proud and happy to be in the final. I came here to just do my best, but it is all a dream come true.
"Everyone in Brazil is really happy and my result will help a lot in my country to encourage more players to come forward."
At the formal presentations attended by Andra Pradesh State dignitories as well as all the sponsors, all the players received enormous trophies, which will pose considerable problems to transport home.
Luckily the President of the BSFI also runs a shipping company, so he had a queue of customers needing to get the trophies shipped back to their countries.
After the formalities were concluded, the players, supporters and officials adjourned to the Ella Suites Hotel for a closing dinner, held outside in the gardens of the hotel.
Next year's IBSF World Men's and Ladies' Championships are set to be held in Damascus, the capital of Syria. Their bid was welcomed by the IBSF AGM and final ratification will take place in January 2010.
It was also confirmed that India will host the 2010 Asian Under 21 championship and Asian Billiards, in Indore, in central India.
The third place play off for the Men's event was won by Yu Delu of China who beat Welshman Phil Williams.
